Visitors to Norbury Park near Leatherhead could soon be made to pay to park there after Surrey County Council announced plans to bring in charges as part of budget cuts.

The council has launched a ‘pay and conserve consultation’ as it is proposing to charge visitors for the use of facilities such as countryside car parks.

Lying within the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Norbury Park has a mixture of woodland and grassland to explore as well as being a working landscape with farms and a commercial sawmill.

The consultation also affects Wisley and Ockham Commons, near Cobham, Chobham Common, Whitmoor Common in Worplesdon and Rodborough Common in Milford.

Those using the car park at Norbury Park could soon be made to pay (Image: Grant Melton)

These area are all looked after by Surrey Wildlife Trust (SWT) on behalf of the council. SWT maintain the paths, trees, wildlife and remove fly-tipping.

Read More

“With the council needing to save more than £100 million from its annual budget our aim is to make the management of Surrey’s countryside self-financing.

“Charging at our car parks could form part of that with those benefiting most contributing more so everyone can still enjoy the wonderful Surrey countryside we all value. The money raised would be ring-fenced to maintain and improve our countryside.

“I hope residents will contribute to this consultation so they can help shape the decisions we have to make.”